Monday, March 02, 2009

If you did not realize yesterday, we have entered March and are less than two weeks (and counting) from Selection Sunday. Out of the many years I have done this exercise, this has been the toughest. Why? There is a higher number of teams among the Last Four In and the Last Eight Out who have signature wins. Simply look at some of the teams that our top 4 overall seeds have lost to (v. Georgetown, @ Maryland, @ Providence, @ Michigan) and you will begin to understand that the Tournament Selection Committee already has with 13 days of basketball yet to played.

At the top, I decided to elevate Duke based on two crucial road wins against teams that we have in the field. Though the officials made as many as three errors in the final four minutes (all favoring Duke) against Virginia Tech, this is an improved team with Elliott Williams as a starter. Louisville, who continues to rack up quality wins, inches closer to the #1 line, while Oklahoma is hurting badly in the style points department.

In the next two weeks, there will be heavy movement between the 4th and 9th seed lines, as many of these teams will face each other in the middle and latter stages of their conference tournaments. Meanwhile, nothing is shored up on the bubble. In a week that expected to see shrinkage in the number of teams vying for spots, we saw more teams join the fray. Though not in the field, Michigan, Providence, Oklahoma State and Washington State earned a closer look with some unexpected wins taking shape.

Normally, we look at the Last Four In. This time, let’s look at the Last Seven In, because that is when the headache of choosing these evenly matched teams begun.

* My 28th at-large bid, Virginia Tech, won a shocker at Littlejohn, and nearly overcame a horrible first 10 minutes against Duke to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. While only 7-7 and with bad losses against Seton Hall and Georgia, Tech has the look and feel of a tournament team, with road wins against Wake Forest and Clemson.

* My 29th at-large bid, Georgetown, added another quality win on a floor other than their own by defeating Villanova. This gave them a real chance at finishing 8-10 in the Big East, which would likely gain them the #11 seed in the Big East Tournament. Two wins, which is very possible, and they are in with no questions asked.

* My 30th at-large bid, Maryland, willed themselves to victory against NC State in a game they badly needed and that is the profile of a tournament team. Additionally, the Terrapins have elevated their play and now hold signature victories over two teams among my top 7 overall seeds. One point of information: Maryland’s inclusion meant that Miami would not be in the field as the ACC will not include a 9th team.

* My 31st at-large bid, Florida, is in a world of hurt. They have a weak SOS and their best win was against Washington on a neutral court in November. Two wins this week (see assumptions) and they have a puncher’s chance at the NCAA Tournament.

* My 33rd at-large bid, Arizona, disappointing this weekend in the Pacific Northwest. In a game that would have been an ornament on their resume, Arizona blew a double-digit second-half lead at Washington. That said, Arizona can keep its streak of tournament bids going, but they must first sweep Cal and Stanford. Good luck.

* My final at-large bid is Kansas State. Kansas State? If they can defeat Oklahoma State in Stillwater and do not slip up versus Colorado, they are certainly in, as that would give them a 10-6 clip with a split against Missouri and road wins against the #2-4 teams in the Big XII South.

As I said, this was the toughest Last Four Out decision that I have to make so far this season. As a result of unanticipated losses on Saturday and concern about how they will play in their remaining games, I omitted Kentucky and South Carolina, who both had little margin for error. As mentioned, not much separates those Last 7 In and the Last 9 Out (the 9th is Washington State).

Key Assumptions This Week* UConn wins at Pitt* UNC defeats Duke* Minnesota wins versus Michigan* Virginia Tech splits against UNC (home) and Florida State (away)* Georgetown sweeps St. John’s (away) and DePaul (home – does it matter?)* Florida takes out Mississippi State in Starkville and Kentucky at home* Notre Dame versus Villanova and St. John’s* Arizona pulls out a Bay Area team sweep in Tucson* Kansas State wins at least one of two at Oklahoma State and versus Colorado* Maryland achieves a split versus Wake Forest and at Virginia

Next Update: Friday, March 6 (results ending Thursday, March 5)

If you have any questions, comments, or just wish to send a shout, shoot me a line at phashemi@gmail.com.

8 comments:

Anonymous
said...

So apparently finishing the season without a loss since December and no losses outside the top 50 drops Memphis to a 3 seed, while somehow 3 losses outside the top 50 (all in January or February) gets Wake Forest moved up to a 2 seed. Did you realize that you had Duke LOSING to UNC and moving up to a 1 seed? I realize I'm not the smartest cat in the world, but I would have thought losing your last game would at best keep you at the same seed, and never magically boost you up a seed.

you have kansas state in over big 12 members oklahoma state & texas a & m....wow !...notre dame & georgetown still has a lot of work to do to be considered for an at-large bid....memphis right now is a solid #2 seed and duke at # 1 is a reach.

* I should have addressed this in my talking points, but Memphis was my 9th-ranked team. They fell to the perceived 12th slot in order that other teams avoid conflicts. Therefore, they fell one slot. While I love how Memphis has played since the insertion of Tyreke Evans at the point (#1 in adjusted defensive efficiency), they have played exactly one clear-cut tournament team since this change. The other teams vying for the #2 seed sometimes face twice that amount in the course of a week.

* Wake earns the #2 seed because they are the only team in the ACC to hold wins over the other teams in the top half of the conference. Not to mention, they hold a nice road win over BYU.

* Duke is a #1 seed because I anticipate them winning the ACC Tournament. In addition to their existing resume and the team's elevated play with Elliott Williams in the starting lineup, the Blue Devils will have a stronger resume than Oklahoma and the Big East #3.

* Admittedly, Kansas State was a very tough pick. Now that Patty Mills has been cleared to play on Sunday, the Wildcats would be the first team out. Notwithstanding, K State is in over the Cowboys and Aggies by virtue of their last 12 results (minus the criminal scheduling of NC Central?!?) and the quality of their wins (v. Missouri, @ Texas, @ A&M, @ Cleveland State). While A&M and Oklahoma State have a better SOS, both lack the quality away win against a certain tournament team which Kansas State has.

* You're right. GTown and ND have plenty of work, and I am projecting (perhaps falsely) that both will win out this week. If I am right, I am perceived as arrogant for having the audacity to predict the future based on the available set of facts and trends. If I am wrong, I am perceived as a moron. I am happy either way because college basketball is front and center.

No love for Rhode Island? Try 23-8 (12-4) winning 10 of 11. They have wins against VCU, Penn State (neutral court), @ Northeastern, v. Akron, v. Temple, v. Dayton and @ Duquesne. They should've been among your last eight out at the very worst.

Well, Blogger was about as effective as the combo of Jackson/ChokeAlarney/Peoples tonight in not processing my original response.

* The ND paves the way for Providence and Cincinnati, while pushing it wide open for the Georgetown, who is already in our field behind the strength of their quality wins and winnable games down the stretch.

* Kentucky and South Carolina have huge games to be decided on the hardwood this week. If the Gamecocks defeat Tennessee at home (sorry, we are predicting a Volunteer triumph), then they will climb back into the field. Kentucky also has huge games this week and can bump Florida when they have a tussle in the season finale ("The Battle of the Billys")

* Your point about URI is duly noted. They were in our Next 8 Out and are playing well. They will earn very serious consideration if they defeat UMass and reach the finals of the A-10 Tournament, losing to Xavier. And perhaps, they may unseat Dayton as the #2 team. However, Dayton has stronger OOC wins and that is why they are in the ascendancy.